As someone who is a current novice in poetry, all of these poems really opened my eyes for the better. In an act of standout, I ultimately chose the poem For a Girl by May Wedderburn Cannan because not only does it take place on the day of Armistice, but it also is painted from the view of a woman at home. Many of our stories touched on Armistice, but here it is a headline. I frequently held a wish to see our characters in a time of peace, and For a Girl gives a little insight to this life. While this poem provides a look into the celebration of Armistice, it also sheds light on the conjoining grief for those who cannot celebrate. For a Girl does a great job at showing the emotion of conditional happiness; yes, the end of war is a time of joy, but it is also a time of sorrow for those lost–and a plea they won’t be forgotten. Additionally, I always found interest in the life of those at home. This interest started with Mother and Mrs. Evans-Mawnington and how they viewed the war, so this poem provided a contrast to their encouragement. To look at the war with a different definition of a home-front, the ones left behind, is something very thought provoking.
I found For a Girl to be very moving for me as a reader. The poem provided the raw felt emotions of sadness, celebration, anger, and mourning all into one piece. A life after the Armistice was similarly taken from the speaker. Furthermore, the poem can be vague in who it is addressing: a father, a lover, a friend? This curiosity gives a meaningful interpretation to the poem; the vagueness provides a blanket understanding of grief, since death is now a uniter. In the end, I believe this poem was an appropriate choice because it opened my eyes to the complexity of the end of war. While this was a day to celebrate, many did not have someone to celebrate with. For a Girl provides a look at the people, specifically women, who stayed behind. I am ever curious about the women in war-time, and this poem gave me a small peek into the sorrow-stained curtain.
